Ash receiver and extinguisher



oun 16', 1934.l A. c. AY-N0R v1,977,437

ASH RECEIVER AND EXTNGUISHER Filed Feb. 1, 1953 Patented- Oct. 16, 1934UNITED lSTATES PATENT OFFICE 10 with opposed surfaces for compressingthe burning end of a cigarette in which the movements of the arms towardeach other are caused solely by the direct engagement of the end of thecigarette with thev opposed surfaces and the subsei quent downwardmovement of the cigarette.-

A further feature is the provision oi'.an extinguisher which is soconstructed as to function as a support or rest for a cigar orcigarette.

Another feature is the provision of simple and emcient means for`mountingl the extinguishing arms on an ash receptacle and holding thearms in normal cigarette-receiving position.

And still another feature of this invention is the provision of an ashtray having cigarette rests and extinguishing means, preferably mountedon an ash receiver, with interlocking'means between the ash receiver orextinguisher-support and the tray to permit the tray to be removed forthe discharge of its contents and cleaning. 'I'he interlockingconnection is preferably of the bayonet slot type and the extinguishingarms serve as handles whereby the receiver may be turned relative to thetray.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing whichy shows several embodiments of myinvention- Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved device.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, showing a cigarette supported on theextinguishing arms.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the end of the cigarette inengagement with the opposed surfaces of the extinguishing or snufiingarms.

Fig. 4 is a similar view, but showing the arms depressed through thevmedium of the cigarette and the end ofthe cigarette compressed betweenthe opposing surfaces, a portion of the ash re- 5'0 ceiver being brokenaway to show the relation of the parts.

Fig., 5 is a sectional view of oneside of the ash receiver, showing themanner in which the snuffing arm is mounted and showing the arm inpartially depressed position in dot-and-dash lines.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a combined spring and locking deviceemployed in .the form of my invention shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of a modified form of this invention. v 60Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 5 of the embodiment of the inventionshown in Fig. '1.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view, showing an ash tray having cigarette andcigar supports and an ash receiver having an interlocking connectionwith the tray. I

Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of another modification of this invention.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view like Figs. 5 and 8, but showing themodification shown in Fig. 10.

In the'embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawing, thedevicesof the present invention each comprises an ash receiver- 10. Thisispreferably dish shape having a peripheral downwardly extending flange11. The dish 10 75 may have any suitable shape, but however shaped, atopposite points in its periphery, for instance across the diameter or achord in case the dish is circular, the dish is provided with slots 12open at the top and communicating with the space between the flange 11and the body portion 13 of the dish. It is at these points that there isfulcrumed, respectively, each of a pair of arms 14. For this purpose,the arms 14 are each provided withan angularly bent ear -15 whichextends 85 downwardly through the slot 12 into the space between theflange 11 and the body 13, as shown V more clearlyin Figs. 5, 8 and 11.

The width of the slot 12 and ear 15 is less than the width of theadjacent portion 16 of the arm 90 14, as' indicated by the dotted linesin Fig. l, so that the Aprojecting portion 17 on the ears 16 may engagethe rim of the dish adjacent the ends of the slot 12'and be thereonfulcrumed.

The arms 14 extend upwardly and toward each 95 other, and toward thecenter of the dish when arranged as shown in Fig. 3, but a suillcientspace is left between their inner .ends 18 for the insertion of the endof a cigarette. Preferably integrally connected to the arms 14 andangularly dis- 100 posed with relation thereto are downwardly dependingears 19 having opposed surfaces for engagement by the burning end of acigarette. When the latter is inserted in the space between the arms 14and is pushed downwardly, the frictional engagement between the moresolid portion of the cigarette end and the opposed surfaces 19 causesthe arms 14 to move downwardly, bringing the opposed surfaces towardeach other to no compress and extinguish the end of a cigarette as shownin Fig. 4.

The sum of the lengths of the arms 14 from their fulcrum points 17 totheir adjacentl ends 18 is substantially equal to the distance acrossthe dish from one fulcrum point to the other, so that, acting like atoggle joint, the two arms in being de-` pressed cause the end of thecigarette to be powerfully squeezed between the opposed surfaces andthus be completely extinguished.

Preferably, the depending ears 19 are approximately at right angles tothe arms 14 so that when the arms 14 are approximately horizontal, thesurfaces of the ears 19 will be substantially perpendicular andparallel,thus obtaining a tremendous force against the cigarette end withcomparatively little effort on the part of the user in pushing down thecigarette end, and without danger of straining the parts. The arms 14may be stiffened against bending by suitable flanges or ribbing.

Moreover, by such an arrangement of the lengths of the arms, thedownward movement of the arms 14 may be limited o f their own accord andwithout the arms striking anything else.

According to the present invention, the space between the opposingsurfaces on the ears 19 is such, and the ears have such width, that theyform a trough for holding a cigarette as shown in Fig. 2, for the top ofthe space and ends of the space may be left open according to thepresent invention.

It should be here noted that the device of the present inventiondistinguishes from prior proposals in two major particulars justdescribed. With the devices heretofore proposed, it was either necessaryto press the extinguishing arms by direct manual engagement, or toengage an actuator with the end of the cigarette. With the firstproposal referred to, the operation of the device was awkward, since itwas both necessary to deposit the cigarette in proper place to beextinguished and then to manually engage some part of the device tocause the extinguishing operation to be completed. With the secondproposal referred to,

it was necessary to have several moving parts to transfer the motionfrom the actuator to the snulng jaws. These were liable to becomeclogged by ashes and particles of tobacco, and, moreover, would causelarge fragments of burning tobacco to be broken oi and fall to the traybefore the snuiling arms began to work. All this is avoided by thepresent invention by causing the snumng arms to be actuated solely bythe direct engagement of the end of the cigarette with the opposedsurfaces and a downward movement of the cigarette end.

In the prior proposals, the space between the opposed snufllng surfaceswas not open at the sides so that a trough was formed between them, and,accordingly, it was not possible to employ the snufling surfaces as acigarette or cigar holder when not operating to snu a cigarette.

'I'hese are important practical advantages which I have obtained overthe prior proposals and which enable me to produce a,device which ismore simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and efficient inuse than the prior proposals.

The arms 14 may be interconnected for movement in unison by any suitablemeans so far as the broader aspects of this invention are concerned.Yet, the specific means disclosed herein have been found advantageous inpractical use and are a substantial improvement over prior proposals.This means comprises a pair of arms 20 on the lower end of each ear 19preferably formed integral with the ear. The arms 20 on one ear 19extend toward and engage the bottom surface 21 on the other ear 19.Hence, if the arm 14 at the right in Fig. 3 attempts to advance fasterthan the arm 14 at the left, the bottom of the right-hand ear 18 willengage the arm 20 onthe left-hand ear 19 and cause the left-hand arm 14to move along with the right-hand arm 14.

This contact and engagement of the arms 20 with the lower surface of theopposite ear 19 continues throughout the downward travel of the arms 14and, so that this may be, the arms 20 are angularly disposed withrelation to the ears 19.

Thearms 20, besides this,.limit the upward movement'of the arms 14, andfor this purpose the arms 20'have their ends bent to form stops 22 whichengage the outside surface of the earsA 19 when the arms 14 are at theirupward limits of movement.

Besides this, the arms 20 serve to limit the downward movement of thearms 14, especially when there is no cigarette end between the opposedsurfaces, for, as shown in Fig. 4, these arms engage the bottom surface23 of the vdish when the arms 14 are substantially horizontal.

'I'he arms 20 perform the function of holding the ends of the arms x14in lateral alignment. This is accomplished by making the arms 20 on oneof the arms 14, the left-hand arm as shown in Fig. 1, extend between thearms 20 on the other arm 14 and in close contact therewith. Hence, asthe arms 14 are depressed, the adjacent surfaces of the respective pairsof arms 20 have sliding engagement with each other and thus limit anylateral movement which the arms may tend to have.

'Ihe arrangement illustrated is therefore more preferable than would bethe more obvious arrangement wherein the arms 14 would be duplicates andinterchangeable with each other and each have one arm 20 at its edge andone arm 20 inwardly removed from its edge.-

In the broader aspects of this invention, the ears 15 of the arms 14'maybe held in the slots 12 in any suitable manner. The means for doing thisas disclosed herein is, however, very simple and emcient and constitutesan important part of the present invention. In the form of the inventionshown in Fig. 5, this is accomplished by providing a spring 24, such asis shown in Fig. 6. This spring, for the most part, lies against theundersurface of the arm 14 and in the space between the flanges 25thereof. It passes through an opening 26 in the portion of the arm 14 inline with the bearing shoulders 17 and at the same point passes throughthe slot 12 and has its lower end 27 in engagement with the flange 11 orear with an extension 28 of the flange 11. extends into a hole 30 in theextension 28 and this interlocking engagement between the spring and thedish holds the arm 14 in proper position on the dish. The spring isnormally biased so as to urge the arm 14 to its upwardly inclinedposition, but yields with very little resistance to the downwardswinging movement of the arm.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the ear 15ais lanced and formed so as to provide a space 31 between its portions 32and 33. This space is designed to accommodate a relatively long flatspring 34. After the ear 15a is pushed through the slot 12a, the springThe end of the spring has a nib 29 which 34 is inserted atwise betweenthe parts 32 and 33 so that its ends engage the inner surface of theextension35 of the flange 11. The spring 34,

. being considerably longer than the slot so that it will not passupwardly through the slot 12a, prevents the arm 14a from being removedfrom the dish. The spring 34 is originally so shaped and tensioned as tonormally tend to push the portion 15 of the arm away from the flange 11so as to cause the arm 14a to swing upwardly.

'Ihe modification shown in Figs. 10 and 11 is similar to that shc Wn inFigs. 7 and 8. In this case, however, the ear 15b is so formed that thespace 36 between the lanced parts 37 and 38 is open at the bottom sothat the spring 39 may be inserted between these parts by verticalmovement between them. To hold the spring in proper position, the springis provided with a nib 40 and the part 38 is provided with an aperture41 to receive the nib, these parts coasting a's a detent to hold thespring from accidentally falling out of its proper place.

As illustrated in Fig.- 9, the extinguisher and ash receptacle or othersupport of this invention may be employed with a tray 42 havingdepressions 43 in which cigars or cigarettes may be rested. In thespecific embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 9, theextinguishing arms 14 are mounted on a dish-like ash receptacle 10 andthis nts in a recess 44 in the tray 42. When so employed, the ashreceptacle may have an intei-locking connection with the tray. This isaccomplished by providing a pin 45 in the tray 42 and a bayonet slot 46in the ash receiver 10. Of course, when used without the tray 42, thebayonet slots are omitted.

When this form of interlocking connection is employed, the ash receivermay be removed from the tray for disposal of cigarette butts and ashesor for cleaning by grasping the extinguishing arms 14 and, through themedium of these arms, rotating the ash receiver 10 until the pins 45 areover the vertical portions of the bayonet slots, at which time the ashreceiver may be lifted vertically from its recesses by means'of the arms14.

After a cigarette has been extinguished by compression between the arms14, the mere disengagement of the end of the cigarette by the operatorsfingers is suiiicient, for, in moving to the limit of their upwardmovements, the arms 14 dis charge the cigarette end from between them.The separate operation of lifting the cigarette end from the snuiiingspace which is necessary with devices previously proposed is avoided.

Any ashes or other material loosened from the cigarette in the act ofcompressing it cannot remain between the -opposed surfaces on the ears19, because the space 47 between the arms 20, while not suflicient toallow the end of a cigarette to pass downwardly therethrough, issufficiently large to permit such loose material to fall through ontothe bottom ofthe dish.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of thisinvention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described thev invention, what is claimed as new and forwhich it is desired to obtain Letters Patent, is:-

1. In combination, a receptacle; a pair of rigid cigarette extinguishingarms mounted respectivel ly at opposite edges of the receptacle andhaving opposed surfaces for engagement by the burning end of acigarette, said arms inclining upwardly toward the center of thereceptacle and toward each other, said arms being fulcrumed directly onthe receptacle for movement downwardly toward each other tor close anormally open space between said opposed surfaces; and spring meansinterposed between the receptacle and each armfor normally urging saidarms upwardly.

2. In combination, a receptacle; and a pair of rigid cigaretteextinguishing arms mounted respectively opposite each other on thereceptacle and having opposed surfaces for engagement by the burning endof a cigarette, said arms inclining upwardly toward the center of thereceptacle and toward each other, said arms being fulcrumed for movementdownwardly toward each other to close a normally open space betweensai-:l opposed surfaces, portions of each arm interlocking with portionsof the other arm to cause said arms to move in unison.

3. In combination, a receptacle; and a pair of rigid cigaretteextinguishing arms mounted respectively opposite each other on thereceptacle and having opposed surfaces for engagement by the burning endof a cigarette, said arms inclining upwardly toward the center ofthereceptacle and toward each other, said arms being fulcrumed for movementdownwardly toward each other to cl'ose'a normally open space betweensaid opposed surfaces, the sum of the lengths of the two arms from theopposed cigarette-engaging surfaces to their respective fulcrum pointsbeing slightly less than the distance across the receptacle between thetwo fulcrum points.

4. In combination, a receptacle; and a pair of rigid cigaretteextinguishing arms mounted respectively opposite each other on thereceptacle and having opposed surfaces for engagement by the burning endof a cigarette, said arms inclining upwardly toward the center of thereceptacle and toward each other, said arms being fulcrumed for movementdownwardly toward each other to close a normally open space betweensaidv opposed surfaces, portions of each arm. interlocking with portionsof the other arm to cause said arms to move in unison, said portionsbeing at the lower ends of the opposed surfaces on the arms and limitingthe downward movement of the arms by engagement with the receptacle.

5. In combination, supporting means; a pair of arms extending upwardlytoward each other and having their adjacent ends spaced to receivebetween them the burning end of a cigarette, said arms being fulcrumedon said supporting means forl downward movement toward each other; andopposed surfaces on said arms inclining downwardly and toward each othercoacting to receive between them and compress and extinguish the burningend of a cigarette when said arms are swung downwardly, portions of eacharm interlocking with portions of the other arm to cause said arms tomove in unison, the space between the opposed surfaces on said arms andthe angularity of such surfaces to each other being such that the armsmay be moved downwardly by force applied directly to the opposedsurfaces solely by the end of the cigarette to be extinguished.

6. In combination, supporting means; and a pair of arms fulcrumed on thesupporting means and extending upwardly toward each other and having ontheir adjacent ends opposed surfaces to receive and compress andextinguish the end of a cigarette when said arms are swung down- 'wardlyand said opposed surfaces approachv each wide so as to form a trough inwhich a cigarette may be rested horizontally.

7. In combination, a receptacle; and a pair of rigid cigaretteextinguishing arms mounted respectively opposite each other on thereceptacle and having opposed surfaces for engagement by the burning endof a cigarette, said arms inclning upwardly toward the center of thereceptacle and toward each other, said arms being fulcrumed for movementdownwardly toward each other to close a normally open-space between saidopposed surfaces, portions of each arm interlocking with portions of theother arm to cause said arms to move in unison, said portions limitingthe upward movement of said arms.

8. In combination, a receptacle; and a pair of rigid cigaretteextinguishing arms mounted respectively opposite each other on thereceptacle and having opposed surfaces for engagement by the burning endof a cigarette, said arms inclining upwardly toward the center of thereceptacle and toward each other, said arms being fulcrumed for movementdownwardly toward each other to close a normally open space between saidopposed surfaces, portions of each arm interlocking with portions oi theother arm to cause said arms to move in unison, said portions limitingthe downward and upward movements of said arms.

9. In combination, a dish having a peripheral downwardly extendingilange, a slot opening upwardly through the edge of the dish andcommunicating with the space between the flange and the body of thedish, and a similar slot at a point on the dish opposite the first-namedslot;

a pair of arms each having a downwardly extending ear projecting throughone of said slots and located in saidspace, said arms normallyextending-upwardly toward each other and having opposed surfaces forengagement by the burning end of a cigarette to extinguish the same whenthe arms are swung downwardly and the opposed surfaces are moved towardeach other, said arms being fulcrumed on the portions of the dishadiacent said slot; and means for maintaining the ears of the arms insaid slots.

10. In combination, a dish having a peripheral downwardly extendingange, a slot opening upwardly through the edge of the dish andcommunicating with the space between the flange and the body of thedish, and a similar slot at a point on the dishl opposite the nrst-namedslot;

a pair of arms each having a downwardly extending ear projecting throughone of said slots and located in said space, said arms normallyextending upwardly toward each other and having opposed surfaces forengagement by the burning end of a cigarette to extinguish the same whenthe arms are swung downwardly and the opposed surfaces are moved towardeach other, said arms being fulcrumed on the portions of the dishadjacent said slot; and means for maintaining the ears of the arms insaid slots and resiliently urging the arms to the limits of their upwardmovements.

11. In combination, a dish having a peripheral downwardly extendingflange, a slot opening upwardly through the edge of the dish andcommunicating with the space between the flange end of a cigarette toextinguish the same when the arms are swung downwardly and the opposedsurfaces are moved toward each other, said arms being fulcrumed on theportions of the dish adjacent said slot; and means interposed betweensaid downwardly extending flange on the dish and ear of each arm fornormally urging the arm upwardly.

12. In combination, a dish having a peripheral downwardly extendingange, 'a slot opening upwardly through the edge of the dish andcommunicating with the space between the flange and the body of thedish, and a similar slot at a point on the dish opposite the'first-named slot; a pair' of arms each having a downwardly extendingear projecting through one of said slots and located in said space, saidarms normally extending upwardly toward each other and having opposedsurfaces .for engagement by the burning end of a cigarette to extinguishthe same when the arms are swung downwardly and the opposed surfaces aremoved toward each other, said arms being fulcrumed on the portions ofthe dish adjacent said slot; and a spring yhaving one end engaged withthe ange on the dish and thev other end engaged with the arm to hold theear of the arm in the slot and normally cause the arm to swingupwardly.`

13. In combination, a dish having a peripheral downwardly extendingflange, a, slot opening upwardly through the edge of the Idish andcommunicating with the space between the flange and the body of thedish, and a similar slot at a point on the dish opposite the first-namedslot; a pair of arms each having a downwardly extending ear projectingthrough one od.' said slots and located in said space, said armsnormally extending upwardly toward each other and having opposedsurfaces for engagement by the burning end of a cigarette to extinguishthe same when the arms are swung downwardly and the opposed surfaces aremoved toward each other, said arms being fulorumed on the portions ofthe dish vadjacent said slot; and a pair of springs, one carried by theear of each arm and' engaging the downwardly extending flange on thedish for maintaining the ear of the arm within the slot and for causingthe arm to normally tend to swing upwardly.

14. Ineombination, supporting means; a pair of arms extending upwardlytoward each other and having their adjacent ends spaced to receivebetween them the burning end of a cigarette, said arms being fulcrumedon said supporting means for downward movement toward each other;opposed surfaces on said arms incliningdownwardly and toward each othercoacting to receive between them and compress and extinguish the burningend of a cigarette when said arms are swung downwardly; and meansconnecting said arms for movement in unison, the space between theopposed surfaces on said arms and the angularity of such surfaces toeach other being such 'that the arms may be moved downwardly by forceapplied directly to the opposed surfaces solely by the end of thecigarette to be extinguished.

15. In combination, supporting means; a pair of arms extending upwardlytoward each other and having their adjacent ends spaced to receivebetween them the burning end of a cigarette, said arms being fulcrumedon said supporting means for downward movement toward each other;resilient means normally urging said arms upwardly; OppOsed surfaces onsaid arms inclning downwardly and toward each other coacting to FIJreceive between them and compress and extinguish the burning end of atte when said downwardly; and menus confor movement m umson, the

being such thai: the arms wardly by force applied surfaces solely by theextinguished,A the spaee surfaces in normal bottom to permit may bemoved downdirectly to the opposed between said o position being open atthe ashes and-tobacco pinched.

from the cigarette to fall therethrough t0 the receptacle when the armsare swung by said resilient xnefms.r

16. In co inaen, supporting upwardly means; apeir retteendoitheciserettetobe` are swung by said resilient means upon mmmcigarette butt.

im: and

ARTHUR c. GAYNOR..

